The emergence of the Energy Retrofit market will deliver attractive value and savings for homeowner and buyers.   2011 will bring rebates, increase home value, immediate comfort and energy savings.

As much as all this value for homeowners delivers, one of the key incentives is to stimulate the economy and the ailing construction industry.  Construction is suffering unemployment anywhere from 25% to 38%.   We have a depression industry inside our lackluster economy.

Several rebates are slated for the beginning of 2011.  SDG&E’s Energy Upgrade California will be available first.  National HomeSTAR awaits senate approval.  Chula Vista launched Home Upgrade/Carbon Downgrade.  City of San Diego also has plans to also offer energy retrofit rebates.

Energy Retrofits
The Energy Retrofit market is a great opportunity for contractors.  Energy Retrofits will create immediate work and add incremental work for any remodels.  It will also launch contractor into a new specialization as a Home Performance Contractor.

Certification
Contractors must be certified as Home Performance Contractors.  Certification is required through Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a Business Analyst and House Envelope.   Also required certification is a Home Energy Rating Service as a HERS II designation.

Training
Now is the time for contractors to take advantage of subsidized training from government grants.  Center for Sustain Energy & Cuyamaca College are presently offering BPI training free for qualified attendees.   Other training companies and colleges have access to Workforce development funds for companies to get their employees trained.  Please see table below for further information.

This is a new market niche that will only grow from government policies, rising energy costs and limitation of natural resources.  With existing inventory of pre 1980 homes, there’s a solid future of improving residential energy efficiency for a long time to come.